Best Of
Re: Combustion question
What model furnace? I had one recently. New installation no heat on a Boyertown furnace, Beckett AFG with the L head.
Combustion test beautiful. 0 smoke.
It came back in the next day no heat. There's oil on the L head. I reset and it fires right up. Combustion test numbers are different. O2 and excess air went way up. I pulled the burner. Got the T-Gauge and checked the Z dimension. The assembly was 3/4" back from specs. I set the Z and dialed it in. Haven't heard a peep since. Check the Z dimension.
HVACNUT
Re: oil boiler loud drone when firing
If you open the fire inspection door and the noise stops then its combustion and draft. …
Big Ed_4
Re: oil boiler loud drone when firing
To the technical folks @epmiller — your noise description was very specific. I even went online to find a comparison tone. The frequency wasn’t an exact match, but the volume level was close to what I’m hearing.
Regarding oil burners, that is not a normal operating sound. It’s possible the noise is combustion-related. I’ve heard this before when servicing a burner that is not adjusted properly — we call it pulsation.
Pulsation occurs when the rapid expansion of combustion gases creates back pressure against the combustion air fan. That back pressure can cause incomplete combustion, which then reduces chamber pressure and allows more combustion air in. The mixture improves, combustion becomes more complete, pressure builds again — and the cycle repeats.
This expansion and contraction can occur anywhere from about 10 cycles per second to over 30 cycles per second, producing a very distinct and sometimes loud noise.
If the burner is pulsating, that is not normal and should be addressed. A qualified service technician should inspect and correct the issue.
Re: Cost to install Aprilaire 865 whole house steam humidifier with fanpack
without being there there is no way we can tell you.
pecmsg
Re: Cost to install Aprilaire 865 whole house steam humidifier with fanpack
We don't discuss pricing for what a contractor might charge on. this site. It is one of the rules located here:
Some contractors will not install parts supplied by a homeowner because of warranty and liability concerns. If something goes wrong, it becomes unclear whether the problem is installer error or a manufacturer defect.
When I was in business, I would only install customer-supplied parts if the homeowner signed a waiver on labor warranty. If the system didn’t work properly after installation, you would be responsible for the additional labor to diagnose and correct the issue. In most cases, that ends up costing more than having the contractor supply the equipment with a full parts-and-labor warranty.
Yes, I would mark up the $1,400 wholesale cost of the humidifier, but that total price also included labor and all necessary installation materials not provided in the box—such as sheet metal screws, duct modifications if needed, a professionally installed water valve (not the inexpensive saddle valve that often comes with the unit), copper tubing, and a dedicated electrical circuit with a proper service switch.
$2000.00 is too optimistic There is a little more than the plug and play you might think of.
Re: Anode rod aluminum vs. magnesium
Hi, I may be a little over the top, but when it comes to health, it's guilty until proven innocent. I could not knowingly leave a client with something that ultimately could hurt them, even if it's not fully proven right now. Reading the document in the archives here from 1932 makes it quite clear there are multiple health risks associated with aluminum and its oxides. The modern studies confirm this. Dementia cases are on the rise. I don't want to risk contributing to it in any way. Guess you can tell I feel somewhat strongly about this "do no harm" thing.
Yours, Larry
